History of the Galveston Republican Women

The first official meeting of the Galveston Republican Women was held on May 18th, 1955, at the home of Mrs. Howard Swann, the founding president. Twenty-eight women joined the club at that meeting. Dues were set at $1.00 per member. The meetings were held once or twice a year. GRW was active at the national level before the state federation was established later in 1955. In 1955, the national dues were $0.02 per member. On May 20, 2005, GRW celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Yacht Club on Galveston Island. Since Hurricane Ike in 2008 washed away the Yacht Club, the anniversary lunch is held at the Artillery Club, one of Galveston’s oldest clubs established in 1840 and moved into its present location in 1959. Our anniversary luncheon is held in May each year to commemorate this event with an outstanding speaker, our “Woman of Distinction” is recognized and the annually revised Directory of Members is presented to members.
Past Presidents
1955  Patti Swann
1956-1993  Rose Farmer
1994-1995  Anne Henderson
1996  Marcell Trotter
1997  Rhonda Kern
1998  Nancy Mainous
1999  Fran Gordon
2000  Kathleen Brennan
2001 – 2003  Irene Kerr
2004 – 2005  Carole Greaney-Wurst
2006 – 2007  Glenda Hink
2008 – 2009  Sally Prill
2010 – 2011  Brenda Gutierrez
2012 – 2013  Jeannie Koenig
2014  Brenda Gutierrez
2015  Betty Henry
2016 – 2017  Yolanda Waters
2018 – 2019  Cathy Frederickson
2020  Jeannie Koenig
2021 – 2022 Irene Henry
2023 Betty Henry
2024 Sylvia Horne
Woman of Distinction
2002  Rose Farmer
2003  Kris Ann Vogelpohl
2004  Billie Cunningham
2005  Margaret Earthman
2006  Sally Prill
2007  Bernadette Foley
2008  Glenda Hink
2009  Peggy McMullen
2010  Nancy Mainous
2011  Brenda Gutierrez
2012  Lizete Gaudin
2013  Jeannie Koenig
2014  Jane Rigsby
2015  Betty Henry
2016  Irene Henry
2017  Yolanda Waters
2018  Cathy Frederickson
2019  Tina Kirbie
2020  Janice Broussard
2021  Fran Card
2022  Linda Buckley
2023 Joyce Bell